Hakuba Horizons
The sun rises over the Japanese Alps for an epic ski trip.
Happo-One (It’s not pronounced ‘wun’)
From outdoor drum beats nestled between snowbanks, 900 year old trees protected by ancient temples, naked onsens and epic powder tree days, we really got it all in a short week jam-packed with awesome.
Buses to and from the mountains were rammer-jammer. Losers were chirped, not just by us. Move over hoser, that seat is for two, not just you and your lunch-kit backpack.
Cultural Differentia
Riding gondora (sic) is not the same here. Snbowboarders must use a plastic “condom” so as not to damage the inside of the lift. Skis, usually longer, do not require the cover. Scraping occurred, but nobody cared.
The mountains’ infrastructure hasn’t been updated since the Olympics were here. If you’ve seen Tales From the Loop, then you’ve experienced Japanese ski lifts. Rust is irrelevant. The operation must continue. Hai, dozo.
Out of Space or Out of Time?
Substack won’t let me post more photos so I’ll wrap this up with an ”until next time.” It’s bedtime on this flight which, having spent a significant percentage of my life on fourteen hour+ ultra-long haul sectors, doesn’t seem long enough at just over eight hours long. I’d think differently if I was in the back, but for now, from 4D, I bid you sayonara.